Pattaya-Revealed.com

Mikkel Kessler was forced to strip naked to make the 12-stone super-middleweight limit today as the tension ahead of Saturday's super fight with Joe Calzaghe was ratcheted up another notch or two.

In front of around 400 fans at the St Davids Centre in Cardiff, Kessler and Calzaghe then held each other's gaze in a long stare-down that almost crackled with bad intentions.

Kessler's manager Mike Marley, an exaggerated character by even boxing's crazy standards, then theatrically drew his finger across his throat in front of Calzaghe.

The meaning was clear, even if it was made more in jest than malice.

Having been around as long ago as Muhammad Ali's second fight with Sonny Liston, Marley should really have known better, and things momentarily threatened to get out of hand as the crowd boisterously booed him like a pantomime baddy.

Enzo Calzaghe took exception to Marley's antics, and the two had a heated exchange of verbals before being finally pulled apart by officials from the Board of Control.

It was a decent appetiser ahead of Saturday night's clash at the Millennium Stadium, but nothing like the main course.

Earlier Marley had been required to take off his overcoat in order to shield Kessler's modesty as he failed to make the 12-stone limit at the first time of asking.

Without his underwear, WBA/WBC super-middleweight champion Kessler was bang on 12 stone having previouusly been two ounces over.

The reaction of his camp to the news that he had made 12 stopne suggested he had been tight at the weight, although it was Calzaghe who looked the more drained.

Given his well-documented struggle to reach 168 pounds, Calzaghe somewhat surprisingly touched in at 11 stone 12 pounds and seven ounes, his ribs, as usual, clearly visible.

Again, he looked the more relaxed, happily posing for photographs before saluting the noisy crowd who had gathered to watch proceedings.

Kessler was more subdued, especially in the build up, but he held Calzaghe's stare as the pair locked foreheads for the photographers, and responded well when the Welshman began wriggling his shoulders as if to throw a punch.

Both nodded at each other knowingly as they exchanged a final glance.

The general consensus among the press is that Kessler is beginning to feel the heat, but as Marley pointed out, there is a difference between feeling nervous and feeling afraid.

Every sportsman, Calzaghe included, gets struck by nerves at some point in the build up to a big contest - it's only when those nerves turn to fear that they have a problem.

Kessler seems to be holding up pretty well under the onslaught, and although Calzaghe may be edging things, it's not by much.

And there's an argument that perhaps Calzaghe is too relaxed, although he is probably just hiding it better.

For years the WBO super-middleweight champion has been of the opinion that he needs to fight the best to bring out the best in himself.

There can be little doubt that in Kessler, he has the kind of opponent who is capable of pushing him to the very limits of his capabilities. Just how far will be answered on Saturday night.

* In the chief support, Enzo Maccarinelli weighed in at just over 14'1 ahead of the fourth defence of his WBO cruiserweight title. Challenger Mohamed Azzaoui was an ounce lighter